PIA07147: Heat Shield Ahead


Heat Shield Ahead

Caption:

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity took this image with its panoramic camera when the rover was about 130 meters (427 feet) from its heat shield, during the rover's 322nd sol (Dec. 19, 2004). The protective device shielded the rover from intense frictional heat as it entered the martian atmosphere. The heat shield was shed during the descent and landing sequence, just before the rover (within its folded lander) was lowered on a bridle. Scientists and engineers are interested in seeing what effects the descent had on the heat shield and are directing Opportunity to examine it.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Mars Exploration Rover (MER)
Instrument Host Opportunity (MER-B)
Host Type Rover
Instrument Panoramic Camera (Pancam)
Detector
Extra Keywords Atmosphere, Grayscale
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2004-12-23
Date in Caption 2004-12-19
Image Credit NASA/JPL/Cornell
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07147
Identifier PIA07147